Method and apparatus to enable job streaming for a set of commonly shared resources

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for prioritizing the use of multifunctional printing system&#39;s basic processing resources to permit job streaming. The printing system employs a controller with an improved job contention manager (JCM). A plurality of basic resources of the printing system are provided with a queue. One or more job services, at desired times, signals the JCM to carry out a sub-job of a given job. The signal for each of the sub-jobs includes information about the respective sub-job&#39;s, job service and its priority. Responsive to the signal from the job service the JCM adds a corresponding basic resource sub-job to the queues of each basic resource which the sub-job will require to perform the sub-job. A first of the sub-jobs is placed in an “Active” state ready for processing, if the first sub-job is at the top of all of the queues, of all the basic resources, required to perform the first sub-job. A second of the sub-jobs, which immediately follows the first sub-job in a basic resource queue, is also placed in an “Active” state ready for processing after the first sub-job, if the first and second basic job resources in said queue are submitted by the same job service.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related in subject matter to andcross-referenced with U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/450,145,entitled Method and apparatus for managing job contention for systemresources in an electronic reprographic system where images aremulti-banded, filed by Salgado et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/450,151, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS TO ENABLE PROCESSING MULTIPLECAPABILITIES FOR A SUB-JOB WHEN USING A SET OF COMMONLY SHAREDRESOURCES, filed by Salgado et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/450,147, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING A HIGH PRIORITYRESOURCE REQUEST IN A SYSTEM USING A SET OF SHARED RESOURCES, filed bySalgado et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/450,150, entitledMETHOD AND APPARATUS TO OPTIMIZE TRANSITION OF RESOURCES FROM A LOWERPRIORITY TO A HIGHER PRIORITY JOB, filed by Salgado et al., U.S. Pat.No. 6,501,559, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS TO IMPROVE SYSTEMCONCURRENCY FOR A JOB USING A SET OF COMMONLY SHARED RESOURCES SUCH THATA SPECIFIC RESOURCE IS USED ONLY FOR A PORTION OF THE JOB, filed bySalgado et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/450,148, entitledMETHOD AND APPARATUS TO IMPROVE SYSTEM CONCURRENCY FOR A JOB USING A SETOF COMONLY SHARED RESOURCES SUCH THAT A SPECIFIC RESOURCE IS USED ONLYFOR A PORTION OF THE JOB, filed by Salgado et al. which applications,except for U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/450,145, were filed onthe same day as the present Application. The disclosures of theabove-mentioned applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a multifunctional printing systemwith one or more queues and, more particularly, to a job contentionmanagement architecture which manages the printing system's resourcesamong multiple jobs with improved job streaming.

2. Brief Description of Earlier Developments

Electronic printing systems typically include an input section,sometimes referred to as an input image terminal (“IIT”), a controller,and an output section or print engine, sometimes referred to as an imageoutput terminal (“IOT”). In one type of electronic printing system,manufactured by Xerox® Corporation, known as the DocuTech® electronicprinting system, a job can be inputted to the printing system from,among other sources, a network or a scanner. An example of a printingsystem with both network and scanner inputs is found in the followingpatent:

U.S. Pat. No. 5, 170,340

Patentees: Prokop et al.

Issued. Dec. 8, 1992

When a scanner is employed to generate the job, image bearing documentsare scanned so that the images therein are converted to image data foruse in making prints. When a network is used to generate the job, astream of data, including various job related instructions and imagedata, expressed in terms of a page description language is captured,decomposed and stored for printing. As is known, a network job can haveits origin in a remote client, such as a workstation, or a print serverwith a storage device. Jobs provided at the IIT may be stored in amemory section, sometimes referred to as “electronic precollationmemory”. An example of electronic precollation memory may be found inthe following patent:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,955

Patentees: Shope et al.

Issued: Sep. 10,1991

U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,955 discloses a system in which input image data ofa job is rasterized and compressed. The compressed, rasterized imagedata is then stored, in collated form, in a job image buffer. Once thejob has been stored in the job image buffer, a selected number of jobcopies can be decompressed and printed without further jobrasterization.

In one area related to electronic printing, namely digital copying, ademand for “multifunctionality” continues to grow. As illustrated by thefollowing patent, a multifunctional digital copier can assume the formof an arrangement in which a single electrostatic processing printer iscoupled with a plurality of different image input devices, with suchdevices being adapted to produce image related information for use bythe printer.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,071

Patentee: Jones

Issued: Jul. 27, 1971

U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,071 discloses that the image related information, inone example, could have its origin in video facsimile signals,microfilm, data processing information, light scanning platens for fullsize documents, aperture cards and microfiche.

The following patents also relate to the area of multifunctional digitalcopying:

U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,107

Patentees: Naito et al.

Issued: Apr. 11, 1989

U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,892

Patentees: Kita et al.

Issued: Jun. 4, 1991

U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,633

Patentees: Saito et al.

Issued: Dec. 29, 1992

U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,948

Patentees: Sakurai et al.

Issued: Jun. 29, 1993

U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,799

Patentee: Rivshin

Issued: Jan. 4, 1994

U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,458

Patentees: Fr eiburg et al.

Issued: Apr. 26, 1994

Multifunctional copying devices are typically adapted to store aplurality of jobs for eventual printing. In one example, jobs areordered for printing in an arrangement referred to as a “print queue”.Xerox Network Systems have employed the concept of the print queue forat least a decade to manage jobs at network printers. Further teachingregarding network printing is provided in the following patent:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,730

Patentee: Hube

Issued: Jul. 25, 1995

The concept of a print queue is integral to the operation of variousdigital reproduction systems. Through appropriate queue management, ajob currently in the process of being printed can be interrupted with aninterrupt job in a manner disclosed by the following:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,735

Patentees: Gauronski et al.

Issued: Apr. 27, 1993

Referring particularly to the '735 patent, a special job is obtainedfrom a mass memory, shown by way of a “job file”, and inserted into thequeue at a “logical point” with respect to the job currently beingprocessed. When printing reaches the logical point at which the specialjob was inserted, the job currently being processed is interrupted sothat the special job is processed. Upon completion of the processing ofthe special job, processing of the interrupted job is resumed. The queuedisclosed in the '735 patent is managed, in the normal case, on afirst-come-first-serve (“FIFO”) basis except when special or interruptjobs are inserted into the queue. In the illustrated embodiment of the'735 patent, the interrupt job is inserted into the queue as describedabove except when an interrupt job is currently in the process ofprinting. When an interrupt job is currently printing, a secondinterrupt job is placed behind the interrupt job in process.Essentially, priority is given to the interrupt job currently inprocess. The concerns associated with interrupting a first interrupt jobwith a second interrupt job are also addressed in the following patent:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,009

Patentee: Hansen

Issued: Jul. 9, 1996

The queue management arrangement of the '735 patent is not optimallysuited for use in a multifunctional context because it does notdifferentiate among job types for the purpose of managing the queue.Consequently, a print job cannot, in many common instances, be givenpriority over a copy job, or vice versa. Systems particularly wellsuited for use with a multifunctional printing systems are disclosed bythe following references:

U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,345

Patentees: Paradise et al.

Issued: Aug. 7, 1990

Japanese Application 58-152821

Published: Aug. 22, 1983

Referring particularly to the '345 patent, a first queue is used tostore copy and print jobs, while a second queue, communicating with thefirst queue, is used to store facsimile (“fax”) jobs in parallel withthe first queue. After a pre-selected number of one or more fax jobs isstored in the second queue, the stored job(s) is placed in front of thejobs of the first queue so that the one or more fax jobs can be printedahead of the currently queued copy/print jobs. While the queuemanagement scheme of the '345 patent accommodates for jobdifferentiation, it only does so in a limited manner. For instance, thefax queue can be given preferential treatment relative to the copy/printqueue, so that one or more fax jobs can be printed ahead of a copy orprint jobs. No mechanism for treating a given copy or print jobpreferentially, however, is suggested. Even though U.S. Pat. No.5,511,150 to Beaudet et al. (Issued Apr. 23, 1996) accommodates forpreferential treatment of copy jobs relative to print jobs, it does notdo so in a queue context as discussed in the references above.Additionally, in the approach of the '345 patent, a copy or print jobcan get “stuck” in the copy/print job queue when multiple fax jobs aregiven preferential processing treatment relative to the copy/print jobs

U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,355

Patentee: Nomura

Issued: May 12, 1992

Referring to the 355 patent, it discloses a printer control system forenabling queue identifiers, which identify different print jobs, to besorted such that those queue identifiers identifying print jobs whichrequire fonts that are already loaded in the print server are placed atthe head of a print list, and those queue identifiers identifying printjobs which require fonts that are not loaded in the print server areplaced at the end of the print list. The print jobs are then processedin the order that the queue identifiers appear on the print list. When aprint job to be processed requires fonts that are not loaded into thesystem a message is displayed on a display unit in order to inform theoperator which fonts need to be loaded into the system.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,526

Patentee: Nomura et al.

Issued: Jul. 4, 1994

Referring to the 526 patent it discloses a print job control systemwhich processes print requests to set an order of priority for printingprint jobs. A print job manager checks the print request and determineswhat print option is selected and manipulates the queue identifiersassociated with respective print jobs and enters them into a print queuetable. One feature allows changing the print order thereby overridingthe designated print option. Another feature allows for increasing thepriority of low priority jobs regardless of the designated print optionassuring that the low priority jobs will be printed.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,016

Patentee: Kashiwagi et al.

Issued: Dec. 27, 1994

Referring to the 016 patent there is disclosed a control circuit whichreceives advance data representing a predetermined number of copy jobsto be provided from a scanner and data representing a predeterminednumber of print jobs to be provided from external equipment. The controlcircuit causes each of the copy jobs and print jobs on the basis of suchdata to be queued, and the jobs to be processed in a time divisional andparallel manner. Basically, the control circuit gives higher priority tothe copy job. The priority order can be changed according to aninstruction from a user interface. When a current job has beensuspended, the control circuit causes a succeeding job to be processedearlier.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,923,826

Patentee: Grzenda et al.

Issued: Jul. 13, 1999

Referring to the 826 patent there is disclosed a printing systemcomprising a digital reproduction system communicating with a remotedocument processing station by way of a print server. The printingsystem includes a first queue of first jobs to be executed with thedigital reproduction system maintained at the print server and a secondqueue of second jobs to be executed with the digital reproduction systemmaintained at the digital reproduction system. The printing systemfurther includes a queue process communicating with both the first andsecond queues for forming a composite queue to reflect an order in whichthe first and second jobs of the first queue and the second queues areto be executed with the digital reproduction system. A representation ofthe composite queue is then displayed at a user interface disposed atthe remote document processing station.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,224 (Atty. Docket No. D/94871Q)

Applicant: Salgado et al.

Pending

A method is provided for a multifunctional printing system in which afirst job, developed at a first service, and a second job, developed ata second service are placed in a queue for processing. A first value isassigned to the first job and a second value is assigned to the secondjob, with the first and second values varying in magnitude as a functionof the first and second services. In one example, the first job isplaced in the queue and a portion thereof is processed. Subsequently,the second job is placed in the queue and processing of the first job isinterrupted by the second job if the second value is greater inmagnitude than the first value.

The aforenoted queuing approaches, while well intended for their limitedpurposes, lack the sort of efficient queue management that is requiredto make multifunctional printing systems having shared resources fullyproductive. Multifunction printing system's capabilities and uses areexpanding at an ever-increasing rate. It is desirable to provide amultifunctional printing system that gives improved productivity byutilizing queue management at the capability and resource sub-job levelsin order to maximize the productivity of the system. At the same time,it is desirable to provide a queue management system for amultifunctional printing system facilitating the efficient thruput ofall types of jobs which might be encountered by the multifunctionalprinting system.

The Xerox Corporation Digital Copier Multifunction Systems comprisingthe DC 240 ST and the DC 265 ST include a Job Contention Manager whichprovides queue management at the Basic Job Service level.

This approach has the ability to concurrently process sub-jobs which donot conflict at the basic resource level. For example, a scan sub-joband a mark sub-job can be carried out concurrently, however, all thecapabilities associated with each basic resource for the sub-job aretied up until the sub-job is completed.

A more productive approach as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 09/450,145 (Attorney's Docket No. 690-008867-US (PAR)), to Salgadoet al., entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING JOB CONTENTION FORSYSTEM RESOURCES IN AN ELECTRONIC REPROGRAPHIC SYSTEM, filed of evendate herewith, releases capabilities to other sub-jobs when they are notbeing used or are required by higher priority sub-jobs. This isaccomplished by providing job contention management at the lower levelof capability job requests with both capability resource queues andbasic resource queues. The present invention extends this prioritizationapproach to provide job streaming of a service's job request forcommonly shared resources.

The disclosure of each patent or application mentioned or discussed inthe above Background is incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the presently disclosed invention there is provided amethod and apparatus for prioritizing the use of multifunctionalprinting system's basic processing resources to enable job streaming.Job streaming occurs when a service obtains a resource for consecutivejobs and processes these jobs without any downtime between them.Improved performance and efficiency in processing jobs is provided bythe process and apparatus of this invention. In some cases (e.g.marking), it is visible to the customer when a cycle down occurs betweenjobs. Job streaming minimizes this problem.

In accordance with a preferred aspect of this invention, the printingsystem employs a controller with an improved job contention manager(JCM).

The process in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the inventioncomprises providing each of a plurality of basic resources of theprinting system with a queue. One or more job services, at desiredtimes, signals the JCM to carry out a sub-job of a given job. The signalfor each of the sub-jobs includes information about the respectivesub-job's, priority and its requesting job service. Responsive to thesignal from the job service the JCM adds a corresponding basic resourcesub-job to the queues of each basic resource which the sub-job willrequire to perform the sub-job. The JCM provides for job streaming byplacing a first of the sub-jobs in an “Active” state ready forprocessing, if the first sub-job is at the top of all of the queues, ofall the basic resource sub-jobs, required to perform the first sub-job.The JCM then places a second of the sub-jobs which immediately followsthe first sub-job in a basic job resource queue in an “Active” stateready for processing, if the first and second basic job resources in thequeue were submitted by the same job service.

In accordance with another alternative preferred embodiment of thepresent invention there is provided a method of managing the processingof a plurality of jobs in a multifunctional printing system in which atleast one first job and at least one second job are inputted forprocessing at one or more job services. The process comprises providinga controller with a job contention manager (JCM) for prioritizing theprinting system's basic processing resources to enable job streaming. Aplurality of capability resources are provided for carrying out the oneor more job services. A plurality of basic resources of the printingsystem are also provided. Each capability resource contains a list ofthe basic resources it needs to carry out its capability and each basicresource contains a list of the capability resources that depend uponit. A job queue is provided for each capability resource and each basicjob resource.

Each respective job service, at a desired time, signals the JCM to carryout a sub-job of the respective first and second jobs. The signal foreach of the sub-jobs includes information about the respective sub-job'spriority (FIFO or job based priority) and its requesting job service.Responsive to such a signal the JCM creates a capability sub-jobcontaining the information and adds the capability sub-job, based onpriority, to the queue of the respective capability resource. Responsivethereto, the JCM adds, based on priority, a basic resource sub-job tothe queues of each basic resource which the capability sub-job willrequire. The JCM places a first of the sub-jobs in an “Active” stateready for processing, if the first sub-job is at the top of all of thequeues, of all the basic resource sub-jobs, required to perform thefirst sub-job. The JCM then provides for job streaming by placing asecond of the sub-jobs which immediately follows the first sub-job in abasic job resource queue in an “Active” state ready for processing, ifthe first and second basic job resources in the queue were submitted bythe same job service.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of this invention anapparatus is provided for prioritizing the use of multifunctionalprinting system's basic processing resources. The apparatus employs acontroller having a job contention manager (JCM). The apparatusincludes: a plurality of basic resources of the printing system witheach such resource having a queue; signal means, for one or more jobservices, at desired times, to signal the JCM to carry out a sub-job ofa given job, the signal for each of the sub-jobs including informationabout the respective job, the requested capability, and its priority.The JCM also includes: means responsive to the signal means for adding acorresponding basic resource sub-job to the queues of each basicresource which the sub-job will require to perform the sub-job; meansfor placing a first of the sub-jobs in an “Active” state ready forprocessing, if the first sub-job is at the top of all the queues, of allthe basic resources, required to perform the first sub-job; and meansfor providing job streaming by placing a second of the sub-jobs, whichimmediately follows the first sub-job in a basic resource queue, in an“Active” state ready for processing after the first sub-job, if thefirst and second basic job resources in said queues are submitted by thesame job service.

An alternative apparatus in accordance with a further preferredembodiment of this invention is provided for managing the processing ofa plurality of jobs in a multifunctional printing system in which atleast one first job and at least one second job are inputted forprocessing at one or more job services. The apparatus includes acontroller having a job contention manager (JCM) for prioritizing theprinting system's basic processing resources. The apparatus comprises: adatabase which is associated with the JCM. The database includes aplurality of capability resources for carrying out the one or more jobservices and a plurality of basic resources of the printing system, witheach capability job resource containing a list of the basic resources itneeds to carry out its capability and each basic job resource containinga list of the capability resources that depend upon it. The databaseincludes a sub-job queue for each capability resource and each basicresource. Signal means are provided, for permitting each respective jobservice, at a desired time, to signal the JCM to carry out a sub-job ofthe respective first or second jobs, with the signal for each of thesub-jobs including information about the respective job and itsrequesting job service and priority.

The JCM also includes: means responsive to the signal means for adding acorresponding basic job resource sub-job to the queues of each basicresource which the sub-job will require to perform the sub-job; meansfor placing a first of the sub-jobs in an “Active” state ready forprocessing, if the basic job resource for the first sub-job is at thetop of all the queues, of all the basic resources, required to performthe first sub-job; and means for providing job streaming by placing asecond of the sub-jobs, which follows the first sub-job in a basicresource queue, in an “Active” state ready for processing after thefirst sub-job, if the first and second basic job resources in saidqueues are submitted by the same job service.

The prioritization approach used by the JCM in the process and apparatusof this invention can be FIFO or a combination of FIFO and job basedpriority as desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a networked digital copier suitable forreceiving a job developed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting a multifunctional, network adaptiveprinting machine;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a video control module for the printingmachine of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a transfer module used in conjunction withthe printing machine of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a facsimile card used in conjunction withthe video control module of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a network controller for the printingmachine of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of a queue used to store jobs pursuant toprocessing thereof;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the signal interaction between theBasic Job Service (BJS) and the JCM.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 comprise a schematic flow diagram depicting themanner in which jobs progress in a FIFO priority approach as a functionof a preferred aspect of a contention management scheme embodied in thepresent invention.

FIGS. 12, 13, and 14 comprise a schematic flow diagram depicting themanner in which jobs progress in a job based priority approach as afunction of another preferred aspect of a contention management schemeembodied in the present invention

FIG. 15 comprises a more detailed schematic flow diagram depicting themanner in which element 126 in FIGS. 9 and 12 carries out the jobstreaming function of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention will hereinafter be described in connectionwith a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that it isnot intended to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary,it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalentsas may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a digital copiersystem of a known type suitable for use with a preferred embodiment ofthe invention. As shown, the system includes a document feeder 1 and anoperation (and display) panel 2. After desired conditions have beenentered on the operation panel 2, the document feeder 1 conveys adocument to a predetermined reading position on an image reading device3 and, after the document has been read, drives it away from the readingposition. The image reading device 3 illuminates the document brought tothe reading position thereof. The resulting reflection from the documentis transformed to a corresponding electric signal, or image signal, by asolid state imaging device, e.g., a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) imagesensor. An image forming device 4 forms an image represented by theimage signal on a plain paper or a thermosensitive paper by anelectrophotographic, thermosensitive, heat transfer, ink jet or similarconventional system.

As a paper is fed from any one of paper cassettes 7 to the image onforming device 4, the device 4 forms an image on one side of the paper.A duplex copy unit 5 is constructed to turn over the paper carrying theimage on one side thereof and again feed it to the image forming device4. As a result, an image is formed on the other side of the paper tocomplete a duplex copy. The duplex copy unit 5 has customarily beendesigned to refeed the paper immediately or to sequentially refeed aplurality of papers stacked one upon the other, from the bottom paper tothe top paper. The papers, or duplex copies, driven out of the imageforming device 4 are sequentially sorted by a output device 6 in orderof page or page by page.

Applications, generally 8, share the document feeder 1, operation panel2, image reading device 3, image forming device 4, duplex unit 5, outputdevice 6, and paper cassettes 7 which are the resources built in thecopier system. As will appear, the applications include a copierapplication, a printer (IOT) application, a facsimile (Fax) applicationand other applications. Additionally, the digital copier system iscoupled with a network by way of a conventional network connection 9.

Referring to FIG. 2, a multifunctional, network adaptive printing systemis designated by the numeral 10. The printing system 10 includes aprinting machine 12 operatively coupled with a network service module14. The printing machine 12 includes an electronic subsystem 16,referred to as a video control module (VCM), communicating with ascanner 18 and a printer 20. In one example, the VCM 16, which will bedescribed in further detail below, coordinates the operation of thescanner and printer in a digital copying arrangement. In a digitalcopying arrangement, the scanner 18 (also referred to as image inputterminal (IIT)) reads an image on an original document by using a CCDfull width array and converts analog video signals, as gathered, intodigital signals. In turn, an image processing system (IP) 22 (FIG. 3),associated with the scanner 18, executes signal correction and the like,converts the corrected signals into multi-level signals (e.g. binarysignals), compresses the multi-level signals and preferably stores thesame in electronic precollation (EPC) memory 24.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the printer 20 (also referred to as imageoutput terminal (IOT)) preferably includes a xerographic print engine.In one example, the print engine has a multi-pitch belt (not shown)which is written on with an imaging source, such as a synchronous source(e.g. laser raster output scanning device) or an asynchronous source(e.g. LED print bar). In a printing context, the multi-level image datais read out of the EPC memory 24 (FIG. 3) while the imaging source isturned on and off, in accordance with the image data, forming a latentimage on the photoreceptor. In turn, the latent image is developed with,for example, a hybrid jumping development technique and transferred to aprint media sheet. Upon fusing the resulting print, it may be invertedfor duplexing or simply outputted. It will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that the printer can assume other forms besides axerographic print engine without altering the concept upon which thedisclosed embodiment is based. For example, the printing system 10 couldbe implemented with a thermal ink jet or ionographic printer.

Referring specifically to FIG. 3, the VCM 16 is discussed in furtherdetail. The VCM 16 includes a video bus (VBus) 28 with which variousI/O, data transfer and storage components communicate. Preferably, theVBus is a high speed, 32 bit data burst transfer bus which is expandableto 64 bit. The 32 bit implementation has a sustainable maximum bandwidthof approximately 60 MBytes/sec. In one example, the bandwidth of theVBus is as high as 100 Mbytes/sec.

The storage components of the VCM reside in the EPC memory section 30and the mass memory section 32. The EPC memory section includes the EPCmemory 24, the EPC memory being coupled with the VBus by way of a DRAMcontroller 33. The EPC memory, which is preferably DRAM, providesexpansion of up to 64 MBytes, by way of two high density 32 bit SIMMmodules, however, any desired amount of memory could be employed. Themass memory section 32 includes a SCSI hard drive device 34 coupled tothe VBus by way of a transfer module 36 a. As will appear, other I/O andprocessing components are coupled respectively to the VBus by way oftransfer modules 36. It will be appreciated that other devices (e.g. aworkstation) could be coupled to the VBus by way of the transfer module36 a through use of a suitable interface and a SCSI line.

Referring to FIG. 4, the structure of one of the transfer modules 36 isdiscussed in further detail. The illustrated transfer module of FIG. 4includes a packet buffer 38, a VBus interface 40 and DMA transfer unit42. The transfer module 36, which was designed with “VHSIC” HardwareDescription Language (VHDL), is a programmable arrangement permittingpackets of image data to be transmitted along the VBus at a relativelyhigh transfer rate. In particular, the packet buffer is programmable sothat the segment or packet can be varied according to the availablebandwidth of the VBus. In one example, the packet buffer can beprogrammed to handle packets of up to 64 Bytes Preferably, the packetsize would be reduced for times when the VBus is relatively busy andincreased for times when activity on the bus is relatively low.

Adjustment of the packet size is achieved with the VBus interface 40(FIG. 4) and a system controller 44 (FIG. 6). Essentially, the VBusinterface is an arrangement of logical components, including, amongothers, address counters, decoders and state machines, which providesthe transfer module with a selected degree of intelligence. Theinterface 40 communicates with the system controller to keep track ofdesired packet size and, in turn, this knowledge is used to adjust thepacket size of the packet buffer 38, in accordance with bus conditions.That is, the controller, in view of its knowledge regarding conditionson the VBus 28, passes directives to the interface 40 so that theinterface can adjust packet size accordingly. Further discussionregarding operation of the transfer module 36 is provided below.

More particularly, image transfer is facilitated with a DMA transferunit which employs a conventional DMA transfer strategy to transfer thepackets. In other words, the beginning and end addresses of the packetare used by the transfer unit in implementing a given transfer. When atransfer is complete, the interface 40 transmits a signal back to thesystem controller 44 so that further information, such as desired packetsize and address designations, can be obtained.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, three I/O components are shown as beingcoupled operatively to the VBus 28, namely a FAX module 48, the scanneror IIT 18, and the printer or IOT 20; however, it should be recognizedthat a wide variety of components could be coupled to the VBus by way anexpansion slot 50. Referring to FIG. 5, an implementation for the FAXmodule, which is coupled to the VBus 28 by way of transfer module 36 b,is discussed in further detail. In the preferred embodiment, a facsimiledevice (FAX) 51 includes a chain of components, namely a section 52 forperforming Xerox adaptive compression/decompression, a section 54 forscaling compressed image data, a section 56 for converting compressedimage data to or from CCITT format, and a modem 58, preferablymanufactured by Rockwell Corporation, for transmitting CCITT formatteddata from or to a telephone, by way of a conventional communicationline.

Referring still to FIG. 5, each of the sections 52, 54 and 56 as well asmodem 58 are coupled with the transfer module 36 b by way of a controlline 60. This permits transfers to be made to and from the FAX module 48without involving a processor. As should be understood, the transfermodule 36 b can serve as a master or slave for the FAX module in thatthe transfer module can provide image data to the FAX for purposes oftransmission or receive an incoming FAX. In operation, the transfermodule 36 b reacts to the FAX module in the same manner that it wouldreact to any other I/O component. For example, to transmit a FAX job,the transfer module 36 b feeds packets to the section 52 through use ofthe DMA transfer unit 42 and, once a packet is fed, the transfer moduletransmits an interrupt signal to the system processor 44 requestinganother packet. In one embodiment, two packets are maintained in thepacket buffer 38 so that “ping-ponging” can occur between the twopackets. In this way, the transfer module 36 b does not run out of imagedata even when the controller cannot get back to it immediately uponreceiving an interrupt signal.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the IIT 18 and IOT 20 are operatively coupledto the VBus 28 by way of transfer modules 36 c and 36 d.

Additionally, the IIT 18 and the IOT 20 are operatively coupled with acompressor 62 and a decompressor 64, respectively. The compressor anddecompressor are preferably provided by way of a single module thatemploys Xerox adaptive compression devices. Xerox adaptive compressiondevices have been used for compression/decompression operations by XeroxCorporation in its DocuTech® printing system. In practice, at least someof the functionality of the transfer modules is provided by way of a 3channel DVMA device, which device provides local arbitration for thecompression/decompression module.

As further illustrated by FIG. 3, the scanner 18, which includes theimage processing section 22, is coupled with an annotate/merge module66.

Preferably, the image processing section includes one or more dedicatedprocessors programmed to perform various desired functions, such asimage enhancement, thresholding/screening, rotation, resolutionconversion and TRC adjustment. Thresholding and screening are commonimaging functions relating to the concept of applying an image screen toimprove the quality of the image. The selective activation of each ofthese functions can be coordinated by a group of image processingcontrol registers, the registers being programmed by the systemcontroller 44. Preferably, the functions are arranged along a “pipeline”in which image data is inputted to one end of the pipe, and imageprocessed image data is outputted at the other end of the pipe. Tofacilitate throughput, transfer module 36 e is positioned at one end ofthe image processing section 22 and transfer module 36 c is positionedat another end of the section 22. As will appear, positioning oftransfer modules 36 c and 36 e in this manner greatly facilitates theconcurrency of a loopback process.

Referring still to FIG. 3, arbitration of the various bus masters of theVCM 16 is implemented by way of a VBus arbiter 70 disposed in a VBusarbiter/bus gateway 71. The arbiter determines which bus master (e.g.FAX module, Scanner, Printer, SCSI Hard Drive, EPC Memory or NetworkService Component) can access the VBus at one given time. The arbiter ismade up of two main sections and a third control section. The firstsection, i.e., the “Hi-Pass” section, receives input bus requests andcurrent priority selection, and outputs a grant corresponding to thehighest priority request pending.

The current priority selection input is the output from the secondsection of the arbiter and is referred to as “Priority Select”. Thissection implements priority rotation and selection algorithm. At anygiven moment, the output of the logic for priority select determines theorder in which pending requests will be serviced. The input to PrioritySelect is a register which holds an initial placement of devices on apriority chain. On servicing requests, this logic moves the devices upand down the priority chain thereby selecting the position of a device'snext request. Control logic synchronizes the tasks of the Hi-Pass andthe Priority Select by monitoring signals regarding request/grantactivity. It also prevents the possibility of race conditions.

Referring to FIG. 6, the network service module 14 is discussed infurther detail. As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, thearchitecture of the network service module is similar to that of a known“PC clone”. More particularly, in the preferred embodiment, thecontroller 44, which preferably assumes the form of a SPARC processor,manufactured by Sun Microsystems, Inc., is coupled with a standard SBus72. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 6, a host memory 74, whichpreferably assumes the form of DRAM, and a SCSI disk drive device 76 arecoupled operatively to the SBus 72. While not shown in FIG. 6, a storageor I/O device could be coupled with the SBus with a suitable interfacechip. As further shown in FIG. 6, the SBus is coupled with a network 78by way of an appropriate network interface 80. In one example, thenetwork interface includes all of the hardware and software necessary torelate the hardware/software components of the controller 44 with thehardware/software components of the network 78. For instance, tointerface various protocols between the network service module 14 andthe network 78, the network interface could be provided with, amongother software, Netware® from Novell Corp.

In one example, the network 78 includes a client, such as a workstation82 with an emitter or driver 84. In operation, a user may generate a jobincluding a plurality of electronic pages and a set of processinginstructions. In turn, the job is converted, with the emitter, into arepresentation written in a page description language, such asPostScript.

The job is then transmitted to the controller 44 where it is interpretedwith a decomposer, such as one provided by Adobe Corporation. Some ofthe principles underlying the concept of interpreting a PDL job areprovided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,634 to Bonk et al. and U.S. Pat. No.5,226,112 to Mensing et al., the disclosures of both references beingincorporated herein by reference. Further details regarding a techniquefor generating a job in a PDL may be obtained by reference to thefollowing text, the pertinent portions of which are incorporated hereinby reference:

PostScript® Language Reference Manual

Second Edition

Addison-Wesley Publishing Co.

1990

Referring again to FIG. 3, the network service module 14 is coupled withthe VCM 16 via a bus gateway 88 of the VBus arbiter/bus gateway 71. Inone example, the bus gateway comprises a field programmable gate arrayprovided by XILINX corporation. The bus gateway device provides theinterface between the host SBus and the VCM VBus. It provides VBusaddress translation for accesses to address spaces in the VBus realaddress range, and passes a virtual address to the host SBus for virtualaddresses in the host address range. A DMA channel for memory to memorytransfers is also implemented in the bus gateway. Among other things,the bus gateway provides seamless access between the VBus and SBus, anddecodes virtual addresses from bus masters, such as one of the transfermodules 36, so that an identifier can be obtained from a correspondingslave component. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatmany components of the printing system 10 are implemented in the form ofa single ASIC.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, further discussion regarding DMA transferof each of the transfer modules 36 is provided. In particular, in oneexample, the images of a job are stored in the host memory 74 as aseries of blocks. Preferably, each block comprises a plurality ofpackets. In operation, one of the transfer modules 36 is provided, bythe controller 44, with the beginning address of a block and the size ofthe block. In turn, for that block, the transfer module 36 effects apacket transfer and increments/decrements a counter. This procedure isrepeated for each packet of the block until the interface 40 determines,by reference to the counter, that the last packet of the block has beentransferred. Typically, for each stored image, several blocks aretransferred, in a packet-by-packet manner, as described immediatelyabove.

As previously noted the Xerox Corporation Digital Copier MultifunctionSystems comprising the DC 240 ST and the DC 265 ST include a Job

Contention Manager which provides queue management at the External orBasic Job Service levels. Referring to FIG. 7, those systems include aqueue of jobs 200 ready for processing with the printer 20 as shown inFIG. 1. As with other conventional print queues, the job currently beingprinted is displayed in a window 202 and buttons 204 can be employed toscroll the list of jobs up or down. It should be appreciated that in amultifunctional machine of the this type and those discussed in theBackground above, more than one queue is employed to accommodate for thevarious Basic Job Services offered. For example, jobs waiting to bescanned would reside in a scan queue while jobs waiting to be faxedwould reside in a fax queue. Essentially the print or mark queue of FIG.7 may be just one of the plurality of Basic Job Service queues employedin a multifunction printing system. Additionally, it should beappreciated that jobs may be inserted into the queues in a mannerconsistent with that disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,735. Finally, itwill be appreciated that the queues could be maintained in, among otherlocations, the VCM of FIG. 3 or the Network Service Module of FIG. 6.

In any multifunctional product (also referred to below as “MF Engine”),such as the printing system 10 described above, there is always thepotential of multiple users requiring access to one or more subsystemsat the same time. This access contention can occur in several areas ofthe MF Engine, either as contention for a single resource e.g., EPCmemory 24 (FIG. 3), or as a contention for multiple kinds of resourcese.g., EPC memory and IIT. When a contention situation arises, theprinting system must respond in a predictable, and controlled mannerthat satisfies the various users.

In the Xerox DC 240 ST and the DC 265 ST Multifunction Systems, at leasttwo contention management methods are contemplated, as more fillydescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,224 (Atty. Docket No. D/94871Q) toSalgado et al., which is incorporated by reference herein, (hereinafterthe “Salgado Application”).

1. First In First Out (FIFO) Job Management.

In this method contention is handled on a first come first serve basis.Jobs submitted ahead of other jobs have first use of the required BasicJob Service. Other jobs requesting that service are numerically orderedby their time of arrival and eventually have the opportunity to use theservice.

2. Prioritized Job Management

In this method access to resources is managed with a “KeyOperator/System Administrator (“KO/SA”) defined algorithm. With thisalgorithm, the KO/SA can arrange to have jobs defined according to jobtype, immediate walkup need, history of interruptions and other relevantfactors. The algorithm can be configured to manage job contention inaccordance with the desires of a typical printing system user. Since itis flexibly programmable, the algorithm can be made to accommodate forFIFO. In other words, FIFO is a subset of the capabilities of thisalgorithm.

The Salgado Application discloses at least five job types that arehandled by the KO/SA priority algorithm:

1. Copy Print or Walk-Up Jobs: Walk up user jobs requiring the use ofthe IIT and the corresponding marking resource;

2. Auto Report Print: Reports that are automatically printed, such asreports of machine or copier use, error logs, fax reports, etc. Thereports, which are defined by the SA/KO, are printed from memoryresources and require marking engine usage;

3. Net Print: Included in this job category are the following:

a) Jobs arriving from network sources, via the network service module 14(FIG. 1), which require marking resource,

b) Network service module (also referred to as “ESS”) soft mailbox jobsactivated by a walk-up or remote user, and

c) Any other jobs originating from the ESS or network;

4. Fax Mailbox: Included in this job category are the following:

a) Fax receives which have been stored on the system for printout at auser's request,

b) Local reports such as system usage or fax logs, and

c) Any other jobs originating from the EPC memory 24 (FIG. 3) or theprinting system (also referred to as “MFSYS”);

5. Fax Print: Incoming Fax jobs that are meant to be printedimmediately. Such jobs are captured in EPC memory 24 and then printedimmediately.

The approach of the Salgado Application. provides a system job whichcorresponds to a work request made by a user. The user's work request ismade at the MF Engine's user interface or External Job Service (EJS).For example, a copy job corresponds to a user's request to perform acopy operation. Each EJS job breaks down into multiple sub-jobs. Eachsub-job corresponds to the work responsible for a basic job operationwhich is processed by a Basic Job Service (BJS). Copy jobs break downinto scan, image processing, and mark sub-jobs.

Processing a job by a Basic Job Service requires use of video hardware.Video hardware includes the compressor, decompessor, ips1 board, inputchannel, output channel, and loopback channel. Multiple sub-jobs canrequire the use of the same video hardware. The Job Contention Managerof the Salgado Application manages the use of the video hardware andwhich sub-job acquires the hardware when a contention decision isrequired at the level of the Basic Job Service, based on the priorityschemes noted above.

The following terminology should be useful in obtaining a more completeunderstanding of the present description:

Authorized User: a user having a higher authority level than a casualuser, but access rights less than that of a KO/SA. This is a reservedauthority level intended for VIP Users.

Job Priority: A priority assigned according to job or user type. Anexemplary priority scheme, based on job type, is provided in the SalgadoApplication.

Resource: Any mechanical, electronic or software component required toprocess a job or sub-job.

Marking Resource: The resource used to print a job on a given mediatype, Memory Resource: Types of Read/Write memory used by the printingsystem, e.g. memories 24, 34 (FIG. 3), 74 and 76 (FIG. 6).

Marked Job: A job which has been printed. This term is more generic than“printed job” and does not imply a particular method used for writing tothe type of media.

Next to Print: This is the nomenclature for a job which is at the top ofthe queue of jobs and under stable/normal conditions, will be the “nextto print” from the queue.

Decompressor: Video hardware that decompresses a compressed image backto its “raw” data.

Compressor: Video hardware that compresses an image based on aconventional compression algorithm.

Loopback Channel: Input Channel and Output Channel: Comprise videochannels used to physically transfer image data.

ips1: Physical component that performs a number of imaging functionssuch as reduction, enlargement, lighter, darker, and contrast.

This invention embodies many of the elements disclosed in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/450,145 (Attorney's Docket No. 690-008867-US(PAR)), to Salgado et al., entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGINGJOB CONTENTION FOR SYSTEM RESOURCES IN AN ELECTRONIC REPROGRAPHICSYSTEM, filed of even date herewith, (“Salgado 66 Application”) andthose elements are included hereafter in an effort to more clearlydescribe the various embodiments of this invention. This inventionproposes an expansion of the method and apparatus described in theSalgado 66 Application to enable job streaming for a set of resources.Job streaming is the concept where a service processes multiple sub-jobsserially without interruption or downtime between the sub-jobs. Forexample, marking job streaming allows the Mark Service to processmultiple mark sub-jobs without cycling down the marker or print engine.

In accordance with this invention the improved method and apparatus formanaging contention for a system's resources among multiple sub-jobsprovides for job streaming. In accordance with preferred embodiments ofthis invention it is also possible to do one or more of thefollowing: 1) process multiple sub-job requests for resources, 2)provide concurrent job processing when a contention condition does notexit, 3) assign basic resources to a sub-job based on its priority, 4)suspend a sub-job's use of resources in favor of a higher priority job,5) transfer resources from a lower priority sub-job to a higher prioritysub-job, 6) provide quick processing of BJS′ video resource request foreach image, and 7) expand for additional video resources and videocapabilities.

Referring to FIG. 8, the Job Contention Manager (JCM) 112 of thisinvention controls the allocation of resources at the level of the basicresources. As shown in FIG. 8 it tracks and assigns video resourcerequests received by the JCM 112 from the BJS 110. The requests betweenthe JCM 112 and the BJS 110 use a Propose/Accept/No Accept protocol.Table 1 provides examples of typical External Job Services and the BJSsub-jobs which they entail for an exemplary Multifunction Printer (MFP).It is within the scope of this invention to provide additional EJS andBJS 110 services as may be desired and Table 1 is provided only by wayof Example.

TABLE 1 JOB SERVICES EXTERNAL JOB FAX FAX REPORT TEST PATTERN SERVICESCOPY PRINT PRINT FILE OUT PRINT PRINT BASIC Scan ESS ESS Scan ScanReport Internal JOB Input Input Generator Image Generator SERVICES ±IPMark Mark ±IP ±IP Mark Mark Mark ESS ESS Output Output

The Basic Job Service (BJS) breaks up the External Job Service requestinto a series of sub-job requests as shown in Table 1. As shown in FIG.8, in accordance with this invention, for each sub-job the BJS 10 callsupon the Job Contention Manager (JCM) 12 with a “Propose” for videoresources. The JCM provides a set of video capabilities or CapabilityResources (CR) for use by the BJS as exemplified by Tables 2a and 2b.Each CR uses a specific set of video hardware or Basic Resources (BR).

TABLE 2a VIDEO CAPABILITIES CAPABILITY SCAN IP MARK RESOURCES PRE-SCANCOMPRESSED ANNOTATE DECOMPRESSED BASIC Loopback Compressor Input ChannelOutput Channel RESOURCES Channel IPS1 Input Channel Loopback ChannelDecompressor Output Channel Compressor Decompressor

TABLE 2b CAPABILITY RESOURCES ESS INPUT CAPABILITY NONRES- ESS REPORTINTERNAL RESOURCES CONVERSIONS OUTPUT GENERATOR IMAGE BASIC LoopbackOutput Channel Decompressor IPS1 RESOURCES Channel Compressor OutputChannel Input Channel

Tables 2a and 2b provide examples of typical Capability Resources (CR)and the Basic Resources (BR) or video resources which they utilize in anexemplary Multifunction Printer (MFP). It is within the scope of thisinvention to provide additional CRs and BRs as may be desired and Tables2a and 2b are provided only by way of Example. By way of example, asshown in Tables 2a and 2b the Scan capability (CR) uses the compressorand the input channel Basic Resources and the ESS Input capability (CR)uses the loopback channel and compressor BRs.

The basic architecture of the system for carrying out the method of thisinvention for managing contention for a system's resources amongmultiple sub-jobs and how those resources are shared will now bedescribed in detail by reference to FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11 and 15. The flowdiagrams shown in these Figures comprise a first preferred embodiment ofthe invention which uses a simple First In/First Out (FIFO)prioritization scheme.

Referring to FIG. 8, when the Basic Job Service 110 is ready to processa sub-job, it sends an image “Propose” as described above, for eachimage it needs to process, to the Job Contention Manager 112. The JobContention Manager 112 maintains at least a two-level interconnecteddatabase 113. The first level 114 corresponds to the CapabilityResources (CR). The second level 115 corresponds to the Basic Resources(BR) which are essentially the video resources (Video). The database 113may have any desired number of levels and the two level database isdescribed by way of example. Each Capability Resource in the database114 contains a list of the Basic Resources it needs. Correspondingly,each Basic Resource in the database 115 maintains a list of the CRs thatdepend upon it. This interconnected database is created on system powerup.

The Job Contention Manager 112 also owns the system's contentionalgorithm (settable by SA/KO) which in a preferred embodiment isessentially similar to the algorithm proposed in the SalgadoApplication, which is incorporated by reference herein, however, it maybe any desired contention algorithm as determined by the SA/KO. In theSalgado Application the contention algorithm is FIFO or job servicepriority based or a combination of both. When a job is created, the jobcontains priority ordering data elements including priority, submissiontime, and last modification time.

When a Basic Job Service 110 is ready to process a sub-job, the BJS 110calls or signals the JCM 112 with an image “Propose” request as in FIG.8 for each image it needs to process. The “Propose” request preferablyincludes the job identifier, its priority information, thevideo-capability required, and the requesting BJS identification. Forexample, the Scan BJS needs to scan a copy job (id: 3-1) form the DADH(document handler). For each image the scanner needs to input, the ScanBJS 110 calls he JCM 112 with a “Propose” (e.g. BJS service: Scan, job:3-1, job priority: XXX, capability: ScanCompressed, . . . ).

Referring now to FIG. 9 a simplified FIFO only version of a JobContention Manager (JCM) 112 for managing contention for a system'sresources among multiple sub-jobs is described. On the first requestfrom a BJS 110 for a sub-job, the element 116 determines that thesub-job is not in a capability job service queue in the database 114 andsignals element 118 to that effect. The JCM 112 then creates aCapability Job Resource (CJR) containing the above data. Element 118adds the CJR to the CR's job list or queue in the database 114. The JCM112 then walks or scans through the list of basic resources (thecapability to basic resources mapping is determined by reading a tabledefining these mappings, see Table 2a and 2b), required for the CR, foreach basic resource the CR needs. This is accomplished by cyclingthrough elements 120, 122 and 124. The capability to basic resourcesmapping is determined by reading a table defining these mappings. Foreach basic resource the CR needs as determined by element 120 a BasicJob Resource (BJR) is created and added to each basic resource's joblist or queue in database 115 by element 122.

For a specific sub-job request, the set of data common to the CapabilityJob Resource (CJR) and Basic Job Resource (BJR) is termed a jobresource. A resource's job list is the list or queue of requestingsub-jobs needing the capability or basic resource. When a BJR is addedto a basic resource's queue, the BJR is placed in a position based onjob priority. The top of the queue is the highest priority job with eachsubsequent job having a decreasing priority. The priority of the sub-jobmay be preferably determined as in the Salgado Application, namely FIFOor job based priority or a combination thereof, however, it may bedetermined in accordance with any desired conventional prioritizingapproach. For this exemplary embodiment it is FIFO based.

For each added BJR, the JCM 112 determines the state of the Basic JobResource. If the BJR is the highest priority job within the basicresource's job list (top of the queue), the state is “bjsActive” if noother “bjsActive” BJR is in the list. If there is another “bjsActive”BJR, then the added Basic Job Resource's state is “bjsAcquiring”. If theadded Basic Job Resource is not at the top of the queue, then the stateis “bjsQueued”.

At this point, the JCM 112 needs to determine the overall state of theBJS′ “Propose” request (in this invention, it is the state of the CJR).If all its component BJR's are “bjsActive” as determined by element 126then element 128 sets all BJR's states to “bjsActive”. Element 130 thensets the CJR's state to “cjsActive”. The JCM 112 at 132 then forwardsthe BJS Propose to the component basic services (Video) for processing.Video processes the request as normal and sends an Accept 135 to the BJSvia the JCM.

To enable job streaming in accordance with this invention the JCM 112can have multiply active sub-jobs for a basic resource (BR) under aspecific condition. Therefore, a BJS service can “Propose” for the nextsub-job in its queue prior to the completion of its current sub-job. TheJCM follows its normal algorithm and sets up a CJR and component BJR'sfor the sub-job. The CJR and BJR's are placed in their correspondingsub-job queues for this sub-job. However, in accordance with thisinvention the determination of whether a new BJR sub-job is “bjsActive”may be based on determining that the BJR sub-job prior to the new BJRsub-job is “bjsActive” and that both BJR sub-jobs were submitted by thesame basic job service and capability resource. In other words, if a newBJR is submitted by the same service and capability resource as the BJRabove it, it acquires the state of the BJR above it. Therefore two ormore sub-jobs can achieve a “bjsActive” state if they meet theaforenoted conditions and thereby provide job streaming.

If the BJS′ component BJRs have a combination of “bjsActive” and“bjsAcquiring” states, the CJR's state is “cjsAcquiring”. Otherwise, theCJR's state is “cjsQueued”. The JCM 112 then updates all of the CJR'srespective BJRs to reflect the overall state. In other words, if theCapability Job Resource's (CJR's) state is “cjsQueued”, all componentBasic Job Resource's (BJR's) states are set to “bjsQueued”.

Referring now to FIG. 15 element 126 is shown in greater detail in orderto illustrate how job streaming is provided in accordance with apreferred embodiment of this invention. The signal 450 from element 124is coupled to element 452. For each basic resource needed by a sub-joban index 454 is set at 0. For each sub job in a BR queue element 456signals index 458 to increment by 1. Element 460 then determines if thesub-job at the index position of element 458 is the new sub-job. If itis, then element 462 determines if the index position is 1, which is thetop job in the BR queue.

If it is, then signal 464 is coupled to element 128. Then as describedabove element 128 sets all BJR's states to “bjsActive”. Element 130 thensets the CJR's state to “cjsActive”. The JCM 112 at 132 then forwardsthe BJS Propose to the component basic services (Video) for processing.Video processes the request as normal and sends an Accept 135 to the BJSvia the JCM.

If element 462 determines that the, index position is not 1, then itsignals element 466, which determines if the new sub-job is from thesame service and capability as the 1^(st) sub-job. If the new sub-job isfrom the same service and capability element 466 provides a signal 464to element 128. Then as described above element 128 sets all of the newsub-job's BJR states to “bjsActive”. Element 130 then sets the CJR'sstate to “cjsActive”.

The JCM 112 at 132 then forwards the BJS Propose to the component basicservices (Video) for processing immediately after the prior “bjsActive”sub-job submitted by the same service and capability resource. Videoprocesses the request in a streaming sequence, and sends an Accept 135to the BJS via the JCM. If element 466 determines that the new sub-jobis not from the same service and capability resource as the immediatelyprior sub-job in the BJR queue then it forwards signal 468 to element136 so that the JCM 112 provides a “NoAccept” to the BJS 110. In thiscase, the BJS 110 has not acquired all the video (basic) resourcesnecessary for sub-job processing. The BJS 110 then proposes again at afuture time based on an internal timer (not shown).

If element 460 determines that the sub-job at the index position of 458is not the new sub-job, then element 470 determines if the indexposition of element 458 is equal to 1. If it is then element 470recycles the sub-job to element 458 which increases the index positionby 1. If the index 458 does not equal 1 then element 470 signals element472, which determines if the sub-job is from the same service and CR asthe 1^(st) sub-job. If it is, then element 472 recycles the sub-job tothe index 458 until the index 458 reaches the position of the newsub-job. If the sub-job is not from the same service and CR as the1^(st) job, then element 472 forwards a signal 468 to element 136 sothat the JCM 112 provides a “NoAccept” to the BJS 110. In this case, theBJS 110 has not acquired all the video (basic) resources necessary forsub-job processing. The BJS 110 then proposes again at a future timebased on an internal timer (not shown).

If element 126 determines that the BJRs for a new sub-job follows priorBJRs in their queues which are “bjsActive”, and if it determines thatthe BJRs were submitted by the same BJS and CR as the top job in thequeue, then element 128 sets the new job's BJRs to “bjsActive” and thenelement 130 sets the corresponding CJR to “cjsActive” and the JCM 112 at132 then forwards the BJS Propose to the component basic services(Video) for processing immediately after the prior sub-job in the queue.Video processes the request as normal and sends an Accept 460 to the BJSvia the JCM..

Once, the BJS 110 “Proposes” for a sub-job, the JCM 112 tracks the BJS′sub-job request using its corresponding capability and Basic JobResources (CJRs and BJRs) in the databases 114 and 115. For allsubsequent Proposes from the BJS 110 for this sub-job, the JCM 112 usesthe corresponding CJR's state to determine acceptance (Accept) orrejection (NoAccept). In this case the JCM 112 determines at element 116that the sub-job is already in a queue (capability job list). If thesub-job is in the capability queue the JCM 112 then determines atelement 138 if the capability's job state is “cjsActive”. If it is, thenthe JCM 112 forwards the BJS Propose to the component basic services(Video) for processing. Video processes the request as normal and sendsan Accept to the BJS 110 via the JCM 112.

If the job state of the sub-job is not “cjsActive” as determined byelement 138 then the JCM 112 determines at element 144 if it is“cjsAcquiring” or “cjsQueued”. If it is “cjsAcquiring” or “cjsQueued”then the JCM 112 element 146 returns a “NoAccept” to the BJS 110, whichproposes again at a future time based on an internal timer (not shown).

Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11 the portion of the Job ContentionManager 112 associated with deleting a sub-job is shown. If the operatorof the Multi Function Printer wishes to delete a job, he or she enterthe delete or abort command at the External Job Service. The abortsignal is fed to element 600 of the JCM 112 to determine if job is in acapability queue of the database 114. If it is not then element 602causes the inquiry to terminate by exiting the JCM 112.

On the other hand if the aborting job is in the CR job queue thenelement 604 removes it from the Capability Resource job queue in thedatabase 114. Element 606 then searches for each Basic Job Resourcewhich was needed by the aborting CJR. The JCM 112 then walks througheach such BR and removes the aborting sub-job from each respective BRjob queue. This is accomplished by elements 148 through 158 of the JCM112.

Element 148 removes the aborting sub-job from each succeeding BR jobqueue. Upon removing a sub-job from a BR job queue it signals element150 which decides if the deleted job is the top job in the respective BRjob queue. If it was at the top of the queue then element 152 determinesif there are any sub-jobs left in the respective queue. If there aresub-jobs remaining, then element 154 moves the next sub-job to the topof the queue. Element 154 then signals element 156 to delete theaborting sub-job from the BR job queue. If the aborting BR sub-job wasnot first in the queue then element 150 signals element 156 to deletethe sub-job from BR job queue. If the aborting BR sub-job was first inthe queue but there are no other jobs left in the queue then element 152signals element 156 to delete the sub-job from the BR job queue. Afterthe last BR sub-job for the aborting BJS sub job is removed from the BRjob queue of the database 115 a signal is sent by element 158 to thereset queues portion 160 of the JCM 112.

Referring to FIG. 11 the reset queues portion 160 of the JCM 112 isshown in greater detail. When the last basic resource of the abortingsub-job is deleted from the respective BR job queues then element 158 ofthe portion 159 of the JCM 112 which determines remaining jobs after ajob is aborted, signals element 162 which identifies each sub-job in theCR job queue in database 114. Element 164 then determines the state ofeach of the sub-jobs in the CR job queue and signals element 166 whichthen determines if the new state is the same as the old. If it is, thenelement 168 determines if the sub job is the last job in the CR jobqueue. If it is not the last job, then the JCM 112 walks through all theremaining sub-jobs in the CR job queue by sending a signal from element168 back to element 166 to repeat the cycle. If it is the last job inthe CR job queue then element 168 signals element 170 to call a“SubJobComplete” and exit at 172.

If element 166 determines that the new state is not the same as the oldstate then it signals element 174 which sets the CJR's state to the newstate. Element 174 signals element 176 which determines if the new stateis “bjsActive”. If the new state is “bjsActive then element 178 sets allcorresponding BJR states to “bjsActive”. If element 178 sets all BJRstates to “bjsActive” then it signals element 168 which determines ifthe sub job is the last job in the CR job queue. If it is, element 170is signaled to call “SubJobComplete” and exit at 172. If element 176determines that the new state is not “bjsActive” then it signals element168 which will recycle it since it is not the last item in the queue.

Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13 the architecture of a preferredembodiment of the process and apparatus of this invention, for managingcontention for a system's resources among multiple sub-jobs, using FIFOand/or job based priority will now be described in detail. In thispreferred embodiment of the invention, access to resources is managedwith a “Key Operator/System Administrator (“KO/SA”) defined algorithmsimilar to that described in the Salgado Application. With thisalgorithm, the KO/SA can arrange to have jobs defined according to jobtype, immediate walkup need, history of interruptions and other relevantfactors. The algorithm can be configured to manage job contention inaccordance with the desires of a typical printing system user. Since itis flexibly programmable, the algorithm can be made to accommodate forFIFO. In other words, FIFO is a subset of the capabilities of thisalgorithm. This invention prioritizes at the level of the basicresources thereby providing more efficient use of those resources.

In FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 many common elements from the previouslydisclosed embodiment of FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 have been given correspondingreference numbers and have the same function as described heretofore.FIG. 12 shows the portion of the JCM 112A which deals with sub-jobswhich are ” Proposed” but are not already in the CR job queue.

Once again when a Basic Job Service 110 is ready to process a sub-job,the BJS 110 calls or signals the JCM 112A with an image “Propose”request as in FIG. 8 for each image it needs to process. The “Propose”request includes the job identifier, its priority information, the videocapability required, and the requesting BJS identification. For example,the Scan BJS needs to scan a copy job (id: 3-1) form the DADH (documenthandler). For each image the scanner needs to input, the Scan BJS 110calls the JCM 112 with a “Propose” (e.g. BJS service: Scan, job: 3-1,job priority: XXX, capability: ScanCompressed, . . . )

Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13 a job based priority version of a JobContention Manager (JCM) 112 for managing contention for a system'sresources among multiple sub-jobs is described. On the first requestfrom a BJS 110 for a sub-job, the element 116 determines that thesub-job is not in a capability job service queue in the database 114 andsignals element 118 to that effect. The JCM 112A then creates aCapability Job Resource (CJR) containing the above data. Element 118adds the CJR to the CR's job list or queue in the database 114. The JCM112A then walks or scans through the list of basic resources (see Table2a and 2b), required for the CR, for each basic resource the CR needs.This is accomplished by cycling through elements 120, 122 124 and 300.For each basic resource the CR needs as determined by element 120 aBasic Job Resource (BJR) is created by element 122 and added to eachbasic resource's job list or queue in database 115.

New element 300 then determines if the sub-job is first in the queue ofthe BR, namely, the highest priority job. If it is not, it signalselement 124. If element 300 determines that the relevant sub-job isfirst in the queue it signals element 302 which determines if there is a“bjsActive” job in the respective queue. If there is not such a“bjsActive” job then element 302 signals element 124. If element 302determines that there is a “bjsActive” job in the respective queue thenit signals element 304 to set all “bjsActive” jobs to “bjsSuspending”and notifies element 306 to set the CJR parent of the suspending BJR to“bjsSuspending”. Element 306 then signals element 124. If the lastcomponent BJR has been added then element 124 signals element 126 whichdetermines if the CJR has acquired all the BJR's it needs to carry outthe sub-job.

Elements 300-306 serve to allow a ,higher priority job (as determined bythe SA/KO algorithm) to suspend an active job until the higher priorityjob is completed. When a new sub-job request results in the need tosuspend another sub-job's request, the JCM 112A sets the existingsub-job's CJR's state to “cjsSuspending”. Upon the next Propose for thesuspending sub-job, the JCM transitions the basic resources from thesuspending sub-job to the acquiring sub-job. The BJS that Proposed forthe suspending sub-job receives a “NoAccept” from the JCM 112A. When aBJS has completed its processing of a sub-job, it notifies the JCM 112via a “SubJobCompleted”.

On receiving a “SubJobCompleted”, the JCM 112 deletes the sub-job'sinformation (CJRs and BJRs). For each BJR component used by the sub-job,the JCM 112 assigns the basic resource to the next sub-job in the BR'sjob queue (the state initially goes to ‘bjsActive’). The JCM 112 thenrecalculates the state of these BJR's parent CJRs. If the BJS hasProposed for resources, the BJS also calls “SubJobCompleted” when thejob is deleted by the user or terminated by the system.

At this point, the JCM 112A needs to determine the overall state of theBJS′ “Propose” request (in this invention, it is the state of the CJR).If all its component BJR's are “bjsActive” as determined by element 126then element 128 sets all BJR's states to “bjsActive”. Element 130 thensets the CJR's state to “cjsActive”. The JCM 112A at 132 then forwardsthe BJS Propose to the component basic services (Video) for processing.Video processes the request as normal and sends an Accept to the BJS viathe JCM.

As noted above for each added BJR, the JCM 112 determines the state ofthe Basic Job Resource. If the BJR is the highest priority job withinthe basic resource's job list (top of the queue), the state is“bjsActive” if no other “bjsActive” BJR is in the list. If there isanother “bjsActive” BJR, then the added Basic Job Resource's state is“bjsAcquiring”. If the added Basic Job Resource is not at the top of thequeue, then the state is “bjsQueued”. If the BJS′ component BJRs have acombination of “bjsActive” and “bjsAcquiring” states, the CJR's state is“cjsAcquiring”. Otherwise, the CJR's state is “cjsQueued”. The JCM 112then updates all of the CJR's respective BJRs to reflect the overallstate. In other words, if the Capability Job Resource's (CJR's) state is“cjsQueued”, all component Basic Job Resource's (BJR's) states are setto “bjsQueued”.

As described above to enable job streaming in accordance with thisinvention the JCM 112 can have multiply active sub-jobs for a basicresource (BR) under a specific condition. Therefore, a BJS service can“Propose” for the next sub-job in its queue prior to the completion ofits current sub-job.

The JCM follows its normal algorithm and sets up a CJR and componentBJR's for the sub-job. The CJR and BJR's are placed in theircorresponding sub-job queues for this sub-job. However, in accordancewith this invention the determination of whether a new BJR sub-job is“bjsActive” may be based on determining that the BJR sub-job prior tothe new BJR sub-job is “bjsActive” and that both BJR sub-jobs weresubmitted by the same basic job service and capability resource. Inother words, if a new BJR is submitted by the same service andcapability resource as the BJR above it, it acquires the state of theBJR above it. Therefore two or more sub-jobs can achieve a “bjsActive”state if they meet the aforenoted conditions and thereby provide jobstreaming.

Referring again to FIG. 15 element 126 is shown in greater detail inorder to illustrate how job streaming is provided in accordance with apreferred embodiment of this invention. The signal 450 from element 124is coupled to element 452. For each basic resource needed by a sub-joban index 454 is set at 0. For each sub job in a BR queue element 456signals index 458 to increment by 1. Element 460 then determines if thesub-job at the index position of element 458 is the new sub-job. If itis, then element 462 determines if the index position is 1, which is thetop job in the BR queue. If it is, then signal 464 is coupled to element128. Then as described above element 128 sets all BJR's states to“bjsActive”. Element 130 then sets the CJR's state to “cjsActive”. TheJCM 112 at 132 then forwards the BJS Propose to the component basicservices (Video) for processing. Video processes the request as normaland sends an Accept 135 to the BJS via the JCM.

If element 462 determines that the index position is not 1, then itsignals element 466, which determines if the new sub-job is from thesame service and capability as the 1^(st) sub-job. If the new sub-job isfrom the same service and capability element 466 provides a signal 464to element 128. Then as described above element 128 sets all of the newsub-job's BJR states to “bjsActive”. Element 130 then sets the CJR'sstate to “cjsActive”. The JCM 112 at 132 then forwards the BJS Proposeto the component basic services (Video) for processing immediately afterthe prior “bjsActive” sub-job submitted by the same service andcapability resource. Video processes the request in a streamingsequence, and sends an Accept 135 to the BJS via the JCM. If element 466determines that the new sub-job is not from the same service andcapability resource as the immediately prior sub-job in the BJR queuethen it forwards signal 468 to element 308 to determine if the sub-jobis acquiring all its component basic resources.

If element 460 determines that the sub-job at the index position of 458is not the new sub-job, then element 470 determines if the indexposition of element 458 is equal to 1. If it is then element 470recycles the sub-job to element 458 which increases the index positionby 1. If the index 458 does not equal 1 then element 470 signals element472, which determines if the sub-job is from the same service and CR asthe 1^(st) sub-job. If it is, then element 472 recycles the sub-job tothe index 458 until the index 458 reaches the position of the newsub-job. If the sub-job is not from the same service and CR as the1^(st) job, then element 472 forwards a 468 signal to element 308 todetermine if the sub-job is acquiring all its component basic resources.

If element 126 determines that the BJRs for a new sub-job follow priorBJRs in their queues which are “bjsActive”, and if it determines thatthe BJRs were submitted by the same BJS and CR as the top job in thequeue, then element 128 sets the new job's BJRs to “bjsActive” and thenelement 130 sets the corresponding CJR to “cjsActive” and the JCM 112 at132 then forwards the BJS Propose to the component basic services(Video) for processing immediately after the prior sub-job in the queue.Video processes the request as normal and sends an Accept 460 to the BJSvia the JCM..

If the element 126 determines that the CJR has not acquired all theBJR's it needs since its state is “cjsAcquiring” or cjsQueued” itforwards signal 468 to element 308 which determines if the sub-job isacquiring all the basic resources it needs. If it determines that theCJR is not acquiring all the BJR's it needs then element 310 sets theCJR to “bjsqueuedHalted” and the JCM 112A returns a “NoAcceptHalt” 312to the proposing BJS. If element 308 determines that the CJR's state is“bjsAcquiring” it signals element 136 to return a “NoAccept” to the BJS.As in the previous embodiment the BJS after receiving a “No Accept” willpropose again at a later time based on a timing signal.

If element 116 of FIG. 12 determines that the sub-job is already in theCR queue then part A of the JCM 112 signals element 138 in part B of JCM112 which determines if the job state of the CJR is “cjsActive”. If itis, it notifies element 140 and the JCM 112B then forwards the BJSPropose to the component basic services (Video) for processing. Videoprocesses the request as normal and sends an Accept to the BJS via theJCM. The BJS sends a SubJobComplete to the JCM which deletes the sub-jobfrom the BR and CR job queues at 314. On the other hand if element 138determines that the job state of the CJR is not active then it signalselement 144 which determines if the sub-job state is “cjsQueuedHalted”.If it is, then element 144 signals element 316 to delete the sub-jobrequest and element 146 returns a “NoAcceptHalt”.

If element 144 determines that the job state is not “cjsQueuedHalted” itsignals element 318 which determines if the job state is“cjsSuspending”. If it is, it signals element 320 which determines if itis the first band of the image. If it is not the first band of the imagethen element 320 signals element 140 and the JCM 112B then forwards theBJS Propose to the component basic services (Video) for processing.Video processes the request as normal and sends an Accept to the BJS viathe JCM. The BJS sends a “SubJobComplete” to the JCM, which deletes thesub-job from the BR and CR job queues at 314. On the other hand ifelement 138 determines that the job state of the CJR is not “cjsActive”then it signals element 144 which determines if the sub-job state is“cjsQueued”.

If element 320 determines that the sub-job is the first band of theimage then it signals element 322 to set the CJR state to“cjsQueuedHalted” which in turn causes element 324 to set the componentBJR's to “bjsQueued”. Element 326 then deletes the job request and theJCM returns a “NoAcceptHalt” at 328 to the BJS.

If element 318 determines that the sub-job is not suspending it notifieselement 330 which determines the CJR's new state. Element 332 then setsthe CJR to the new state which is forwarded to element 334 whichdetermines if the new state is “cjsActive”. If it is, then element 336sets the component BJR's to “bjsActive”. The JCM 112B at 338 thenforwards the BJS′ Propose to the component basic services (Video) forprocessing. Video processes the request as normal and sends an Accept tothe BJS 110 via the JCM. Upon completion of the sub-job the BJS 110signals the JCM, “SubJobComplete” and element 340 deletes the jobrequest from the CR and BR job queues.

If element 334 determines that the new state is not “cjsActive” itnotifies element 342 which determines if the new state is“cjsQueuedHalted”. If it is, then element 344 deletes the job requestand the JCM 112B returns a “NoAcceptHalt” to the BJS 110 at element 346.If the new state is not “cjsQueuedHalted” then element 342 notifieselement 348 which then forwards the BJS′ “Propose” to the componentbasic services (Video) for processing. Video processes the request asnormal and sends an Accept to the BJS 110 via the JCM 112. Uponcompletion of the sub-job the BJS 110 signals the JCM “SubJobComplete”and element 350 deletes the job request from the CR and BR job queues.

Referring now to FIG. 14 the portion of the Job Contention Manager 112associated with deleting a sub-job in the job based priority alternativeis shown. If the operator of the Multi-Function Printer wishes to deletea job, he or she enters the delete or abort command at the External JobService. The abort signal is fed to element 360 of the JCM 112 todetermine if the job is in a CR job queue of the database 114. If it isnot, then element 362 causes the inquiry to terminate by exiting the JCM112.

On the other hand if the aborting job is in the CR job queue thenelement 364 removes it from the Capability Resource queue in thedatabase 114. Element 366 then searches for each Basic Job Resourcewhich was needed by the aborting CJR. The JCM 112 then walks througheach such BJR and removes the aborting sub-job from each respective BRjob queue. This is accomplished by elements 368 through 380 of the JCM112. Element 368 removes the aborting sub-job from each succeeding BRjob queue. Upon removing a sub-job from a BR job queue it signalselement 370 which decides if the deleted job is the top job in therespective BR job queue. If it was at the top of the queue, then element372 determines if there are any sub-jobs left in the respective queue.If there are sub-jobs remaining, then element 374 determines if the newtop job is “bjsActive”. If it is not, then element 376 moves the nextsub-job to the top of the queue. Element 376 then signals element 378 todelete the aborting sub-job from the BR job queue.

If the aborting BJR sub-job was not first in the queue, then element 370signals element 378 to delete the sub-job from BR job queue. If theaborting BJR sub-job was first in the queue but there are no other jobsleft in the queue, then element 372 signals element 378 to delete thesub-job from the BR job queue. If the aborting BJR sub-job was first inthe queue and there are other sub-jobs left in the queue and element 374determines that the new top sub-job is “bjsActive”, then it signalselement 378 to delete the aborting sub-job from the BR job queue.

After the last BJR sub-job for the aborting BJS sub-job is removed fromthe BR job queue of the database 115 a signal is sent by element 380 tothe reset queues portion 112B of the JCM 112. When the last basicresource of the aborting sub-job is deleted from the respective BR jobqueues then element 380 of the portion 112A of the JCM 112 signalselement 382 which identifies each sub-job remaining in the CR job queuein database 114. Element 384 then determines the state of each of thesub-jobs in the CR job queue and signals element 386, which then,determines if the new state is the same as the old. If it is, thenelement 388 determines if the sub job is the last job in the CR jobqueue. If it is not the last job, then the JCM 112 walks through all theremaining sub-jobs in the CR job queue by sending a signal from element388 back to element 386 to repeat the cycle.. If it is the last job inthe CR job queue, then element 388 signals element 390 to delete theCJR. Element 400 then calls a “SubJobComplete” and exits the JCM at 402.

If element 386 determines that the new state is not the same as the oldstate then it signals element 404 which sets the CJR's state to the newstate. Element 404 signals element 406 which determines if the new stateis “cjsActive”. If the new state is “cjsActive then element 408 sets allbasic job states to “bjsActive”. If the new state is not “cjsActive”then element 410 determines if the new state is “cjsAcquiring”. If it isthen element 412 determines if the old state of the CJR was“cjsQueuedHalted”. If it was, then element 414 calls the client toremove the halt (i.e. Propose again). If element 408 sets all BJR statesto “bjsActive” then it signals element 412 which determines if the oldstate was “bjsQueuedHalted”. If it was, then element 414 calls theclient to remove the halt (i.e. Propose again).

Element 414 or element 412 if the old state is not “cjsQueuedHalted” orelement 410 if the new state is not “cjsAcquiring” signal element 388which determines if the sub job is the last job in the CR job queue. Ifit is not the last job, then the JCM 112 walks through all the remainingsub-jobs in the CR job queue by sending a signal from element 388 backto element 386 to repeat the cycle. If it is the last job in the CR jobqueue then element 388 signals element 390 to delete the CJR. Element400 then calls a “SubJobComplete” and then exits the JCM at 402.

The method and apparatus for prioritizing the use of a Multi-FunctionalPrinter may employ any desired number of capabilities. Those set forthabove are only by way of example. The following table illustrates by wayof a further example a wider range of capabilities than heretoforedescribed which could be employed, however, additional capabilities asdesired could also be employed.

TABLE 3 Capabilities CAPABILITY RESOURCES BASIC JOB RESOURCESEssBandRes- compressor Loopback IPS1 Conversion channel EssBandNoRes-compressor Loopback Conversion channel EssBand- compressor LoopbackBusGate channel IIInternalImage- Input channel IPS1 FirstOriginalIIInternalImage Input channel IPS1 IInullImage Input channel IPS1IPBlankImage compressor decompressor Input channel Output channelLoopback channel IPCompression compressor decompressor Input channelOutput channel Loopback channel IPDecompression compressor decompressorInput channel Output channel Loopback channel IPImageRepeat compressordecompressor Input channel Output channel Loopback channel IPNUpImagecompressor decompressor Input channel Output channel Loopback channelIPRotation compressor decompressor Input channel Output channel Loopbackchannel IPCreateText compressor decompressor Input channel Outputchannel Loopback channel IPDiskText compressor decompressor Inputchannel Output channel Loopback channel IPAnnotation compressordecompressor Input channel Output channel Loopback channel PGOriginaldecompressor Output channel ScanOriginal compressor Input channel IPS1PreScan IPS1 ScanToFile Output channel MarkOutput decompressor Outputchannel

The method and apparatus for prioritizing the use of a Multi-FunctionalPrinter of this invention provides a significant improvement over theprior art approaches by extending the queuing process down to the levelof the basic resources for carrying out the sub-job. This allows basicresources to be reallocated to other sub-jobs as soon as the basicresource is available rather than having to wait for a basic job serviceto complete its operation as in previous machines. For an MFP withshared basic resources this provides better thruput since the basicshared video resources of the printer can carry out multiple sub-jobswhen there is no contention at the level of the basic resources.

This invention is particularly useful for providing job streaming forvideo resources. It is principally useful for marking resources since itallows a service to process consecutive sub-jobs without downtimeassociated with cycling down and up. This also reduces the need forhardware maintenance.

In order to better illustrate the improved performance of the presentinvention the following example is provided. The contention algorithm is“job based priority”. In this example, copy jobs have a priority 8 andtestPatternPrint jobs have a priority 5. Thus, copy jobs are higherpriority than testPatternPrint jobs. Note: jobs can begin outputtingafter 4 images have inputted.

Copy Job 1, having a priority 8, is entered at the EJS. The Basic JobService divides the Copy Job 1 into Scan and Marking sub-jobs. The ScanService requires the “ScanOriginal” capability that uses the Compressor,IPS1, and Input Channel basic resources. The Mark service requires the“MarkOutput” capability that uses the Output Channel and Decompressorbasic resources. The BJS 110 sends the JCM 112 a “Propose” for the scansub-job CJ1 for capability “ScanOriginal”. The JCM 112 enters the CJ1sub-job in the “ScanOriginal” CR job queue as the top job.

CAPABILITY RESOURCE SCANORIGINAL QUEUE Job: CJ1 POSITION 1 Service: scanQUEUE POSITION 2 QUEUE POSITION 3

While only three queue positions are shown in this example the data base114 may have any desired number of queue positions.

The JCM 112 then enters the scan service's CJ1 sub-job in theCompressor, IPS1 and Input Channel BR job queues.

BASIC JOB INPUT RESOURCE COMPRESSOR CHANNEL IPS1 QUEUE Job: CJ1 Job: CJ1Job: CJ1 POSITION 1 Service: scan Service: scan Service: scan Cap:ScanOriginal Cap: Cap: State: active ScanOriginal ScanOriginal State:active State: active QUEUE POSITION 2 QUEUE POSITION 3

Next a test pattern print job TJ1 is entered at the EJS, having apriority of 5. The Basic Job Service divides the Test Pattern Print Job1 into Internal Image Gen and Mark sub-jobs. The Internal Image GenService requires the Illnternallmage capability that uses the IPS1 andInput Channel basic resources. The Mark Service requires the“markOutput” capability that uses the Output Channel and Decompressorbasic resources. The BJS 110 sends the JCM 112 a “Propose” for theinternal image gen sub-job TJ1 for the capability “Illnternallmage”. TheJCM 112 enters the TJ1 sub-job in the Illnternallmage CR job queue..

CAPABILITY RESOURCE SCANORIGINAL IIINTERNALIMAGE QUEUE Job: CJ1 Job: TJ1POSITION 1 Service: scan Service: internal image gen QUEUE POSITION 2QUEUE POSITION 3

The JCM 112 then enters the TJ1 sub-job in the BR IPS1 and Input Channelqueues as the second in line since the TP1 job is lower priority thanCJ1.

BASIC JOB RESOURCE COMPRESSOR INPUT CHANNEL IPS1 QUEUE Job: CJ1 Job: CJ1Job: CJ1 POSITION 1 Service: scan Service: scan Service: scan Cap: Cap:ScanOriginal Cap: ScanOriginal State: active ScanOriginal State: activeState: active QUEUE Job: TJ1 Job: TJ1 POSITION 2 Service: internalService: image gen internal image Cap: gen IIInternalImage Cap: State:IIInternalImage queuedHalted State: queuedHalted QUEUE POSITION 3

At this point CJ1 since it is first in the queue has a cjsActive stateand an Accept is sent to video to process the CJ1 sub-job. The TJ1 jobhas a cjsQueuedHalted state and a NoAcceptHalt is sent to the BJS. Assoon as the scan sub-job CJ1 is completed the BJS forwards aSubJobComplete to the JCM 112 which removes CJ1 from the CR and BR jobqueues. As soon as this occurs the internal image gen sub-job TJ1 stateis changed from bjsQueuedHalted to bjsActive at both the CJR and BJRlevels. The JCM 112 notifies the BJR to remove the halt and the BJSforwards a Propose to the JCM which sends back an Accept so that the TJ1sub-job is generated.

CAPABILITY RESOURCE IIINTERNALIMAGE QUEUE Job: TJ1 POSITION 1 Service:internal image gen QUEUE POSITION 2 QUEUE POSITION 3

BASIC INPUT RESOURCE CHANNEL IPS1 QUEUE Job: TJ1 Job: TJ1 POSITION 1Service: Service: internal internal image image gen gen Cap: Cap:IIInternalImage IIInternalImage State: active State: active QUEUEPOSITION 2 QUEUE POSITION 3

Since Copy Job 1 is scanned, marking can begin. Mark BJS 110 sends theJCM 112 a “Propose” for the mark sub-job CJ1 using the “markOutput”capability. The JCM 112 enters the CJ1 sub-job in the “MarkOutput” CRjob.

CAPABILITY RESOURCE MARKOUTPUT IIINTERNALIMAGE QUEUE Job: CJ1 Job: TJ1POSITION 1 Service: mark Service: internal image gen QUEUE POSITION 2QUEUE POSITION 3

The JCM 112 then enters the CJ1 sub-job in the BR decompressor andoutput channel job queues

BR INPUT CHANNEL IPS1 DECOMPRESSOR OUTPUT CHANNEL Q 1 Job: TJ1 Job: TJ1Job: CJ1 Job: CJ1 Service: internal image Service: internal imageService: mark Service: mark gen gen Cap: MarkOutput Cap: MarkOutput Cap:IIInternalImage Cap: IIInternalImage State: active State: active State:active State: active Q 2 Q 3

Since the CJ1 mark sub-job has all its basic resources, it is active. Atthis time, both the InternallmageGen and Mark sub-jobs are active.

After 4 images have been generated by the InternalmageGen service forTJ1 (i.e. 4 images have been inputted), the job is sent to the Markservice to begin outputting. When the Mark service is almost completedmarking its current job (CJ1), it proposes to the JCM for its next job(TJ1). The JCM adds the mark service's TJ1 sub-job to the “MarkOutput”queue.

CAPABILITY RESOURCE MARKOUTPUT IIINTERNALIMAGE QUEUE Job: CJ1 Job: TJ1POSITION 1 Service: mark Service: internal image gen QUEUE Job: TJ1POSITION 2 Service: mark QUEUE POSITION 3

The JCM adds this sub-job to the “markoutput” capability's basicresources it requires (decompressor, output channel). In prior concepts,this second sub-job would be “queuedHalted” in each basic resource queueresulting in some skipped pitches between the end of marking CJ1 and thebeginning of marking TJ1. With this invention; since the mark servicealready acquired the decompressor and output channel resources for the“markOutput” capability, the new sub-job is also “active”.

BR INPUT CHANNEL IPS1 DECOMPRESSOR OUTPUT CHANNEL Q 1 Job: TJ1 Job: TJ1Job: CJ1 Job: CJ1 Service: Internal Service: Internal Service: markService: mark image gen image gen Cap: MarkOutput Cap: MarkOutput Cap:IIInternalImage Cap: State: active State: active State: activeIIInternalImage State: active Q 2 Job: TJ1 Job: TJ1 Service: markService: mark Cap: MarkOutput Cap: MarkOutput State: active State:active Q 3

The aforenoted algorithms as embodied in FIGS. 8-15 can be carried outby any desired computer processing and MFP hardware which includessoftware to carry out the functions as described in these Figures.

While the invention has been described with respect to two levels ofqueued resources, namely, CRs and BRs, it may include any desired numberof levels of queued resources and corresponding data base levels. Forexample, it may be possible to further break down the BRs into a sub BRlevel or levels in an effort to gain increased productivity.

The terms Propose, Accept, NoAccept, NoAcceptHalt, SubJobComplete, ImageComplete, as used herein generally refer to a signal or software requestor software notification and the terms Active, Queued, queuedHalted,suspending, refer to states of a sub-job or a propose. These terms areused in a generic sense and other terms could be used in their place asdesired as a name for their function and use.

The term ESS as used herein refers to an electronic subsystem used fornetwork connectivity and decomposition of images. The term SCS as usedherein refers to the strategic control system which is the digitalcopier control platform. They are part of the electronic control systemof the MFP.

The names used for capabilities in Table 3 are provided for convenienceand any desired name could be used as the name of a capability.Generally the capabilities in Table 3 are just abbreviations for thecapability's descriptive name. Some of the names may not be as intuitiveas others, and therefore in Table 4 there are provided briefdescriptions of the capabilities of Table 3.

TABLE 4 CAPABILITY RESOURCES Description EssBandRes- Transfer of networkimage that requires the resolution Conversion to be modified.EssBandNoRes- Transfer of network image that doesn't require Conversionresolution modification. EssBand- Transfer of a network image (withoutcompressing BusGate image). IIInternalImage- Prepare for generation oftest pattern images. FirstOriginal IIInternalImage Generate test patternimages. IInullImage Generate a blank test pattern. IPBlankImage Generatea white image. IPCompression Compress an image. IPDecompressionDecompress an image. IPImageRepeat Produce a m x n pattern of a singleimage. IPNUpImage Produce a m x n pattern of mn images. IPRotationRotate image. IPCreateText Add text to an image in memory. IPDiskTextAdd text to an image on disk. IPAnnotation Annotate 2 images together.PGOriginal Create an image from text. ScanOriginal Scan an original intoEPC. PreScan Pre-scan an original. ScanToFile Transfer an image to theESS for sending across the network. MarkOutput Mark an image.

It should be understood that the foregoing description is onlyillustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modificationscan be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit of the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intendedto embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances which fallwithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for prioritizing the use ofmultifunctional printing system's basic processing resources to allowfor job streaming, the system employing a controller with a jobcontention manager (JCM), the method comprising the steps of: a)providing a plurality of basic resources of the printing system witheach of the basic resources having a job queue; b) one or more jobservices, at a desired time, sending a signal to the JCM to carry out asub-job of a given job, the signal, for each of the sub-jobs, includinginformation about the respective sub-job's, job service and priority; c)responsive to the signal, the JCM adding a corresponding basic jobresource sub-job to the queues of each basic resource which the sub-jobwill require in order to perform the sub-job; d) placing a first of thesub-jobs in an “Active” state ready for processing, if the first sub-jobis at the top of all of the queues, of all the basic resources, requiredto perform the first sub-job; and e) placing a second of the sub-jobs,which immediately follows the first sub-job in a basic resource queue,in an “Active” state ready for processing after the first sub-job, ifthe first and second basic job resources in the queue are submitted bythe same job service.
 2. A method as in claim 1 wherein, said sub-jobsare placed in said queues of said basic resources in the order of theirpriority.
 3. A method as in claim 1 wherein, said signal for said firstsub-job comprises a first sub-job “Propose” from its job service to theJCM and wherein said JCM determines the state of the first sub-job uponreceiving the “Propose”, such that if the first sub-job is at the top ofall the basic resource job queues its state is “Active” and if saidstate is “Active” said JCM forwards an “Accept” to said job service sothat said first sub-job is performed.
 4. A method as in claim 3 whereinprior to step (e), said JCM receives a “Propose” from one of said jobservices for said second sub-job and said JCM places said second sub-jobin the queues of each basic resource which said second sub-job willrequire for its performance, said second sub-job being placed in saidqueues according to its priority relative to other sub-jobs in saidqueues.
 5. A method as in claim 4 wherein, prior to step (e) said JCMdetermines upon receiving the “Propose” for said second sub-job, if suchsecond sub-job is next in a basic resource job queue after said firstsub-job and if it was proposed by the same job service as proposed thefirst sub-job, and following said step (e) said JCM forwards an “Accept”to said job service so that said second sub-job is performed upon thecompletion of the first sub-job.
 6. A resource based method of managingthe processing of a plurality of jobs in a multifunctional printingsystem in which at least one first job and at least one second job areinputted for processing at one or more job services, the systemincluding a controller with a job contention manager (JCM) forprioritizing the use of the printing system's basic processingresources, the method comprising the steps of: a) including in at leasta first level of a database a plurality of capability resourcesassociated with sub-jobs of the one or more job services and includingin at least a second level of the database a plurality of basicresources of the printing system, with each capability resourcecontaining a list of the basic resources it needs to carry out itscapability and each basic resource containing a list of the capabilityresources that depend upon it; b) each capability resource and eachbasic resource including a sub-job queue; c) each respective jobservice, at a desired time, sending a signal to the JCM to carry out asub-job of the respective first or second jobs, the signal for each ofthe sub-jobs including information about the respective sub-job's, jobservice and priority; d) responsive to step (c), the JCM creating foreach sub-job received from a job service a respective capability jobresource containing the information, and adding each such capability jobresource, based on priority, to the respective capability resource jobqueue; e) responsive to step (d) the JCM adding for each capability jobresource, component basic job resources to the queues of each basicresource which a respective capability job resource will require; f)placing a first of said sub-jobs in an “Active” state ready forprocessing, if the first sub-job is at the top of all of the queues, ofall the basic resources, required to perform the first sub-job; and g)placing a second of the sub-jobs, which immediately follows the firstsub-job in a basic resource queue, in an “Active” state ready forprocessing after the first sub-job, if the first and second basic jobresources in the queue are submitted by the same job service.
 7. Amethod as in claim 6 wherein, said sub-jobs are placed in said queues ofsaid basic resources in the order of their priority.
 8. A method as inclaim 6 wherein, said signal for said first sub-job comprises a firstsub-job “Propose” from its job service to the JCM and wherein said JCMdetermines the state of the first sub-job upon receiving the “Propose”,such that if the first sub-job is at the top of all the basic resourcejob queues its state is “Active” and if said state is “Active” said JCMforwards an “Accept” to said job service so that said first sub-job isperformed.
 9. A method as in claim 8 wherein prior to- step (e), saidJCM receives a “Propose” from one of said job services for said secondsub-job and said JCM places said second sub-job in the queues of eachbasic resource which said second sub-job will require for itsperformance, said second sub-job being placed in said queues accordingto its priority relative to other sub-jobs in said queues.
 10. A methodas in claim 9 wherein, prior to step (e) said JCM determines uponreceiving the “Propose” for said second sub-job, if such second sub-jobis next in a basic resource job queue after said first sub-job and if itwas proposed by the same job service as proposed the first sub-job, andfollowing said step (e) said JCM forwards an “Accept” to said jobservice so that said second sub-job is performed upon the completion ofthe first sub-job to provide job streaming.
 11. An apparatus forprioritizing the use of multifunctional printing system's basicprocessing resources comprising: a) a controller having a job contentionmanager (JCM); b) a plurality of basic resources of the printing systemwith each of the basic resources having a job queue; c) means for one ormore job services, at a desired time, sending a signal to the JCM tocarry out a sub-job of a given job, the signal, for each of thesub-jobs, including information about the respective sub-job's, jobservice and priority; d) means for placing a first of the sub-jobs in an“Active” state ready for processing, if the first sub-job is at the topof all of the queues, of all the basic resources, required to performthe first sub-job; and e) means for placing a second of the sub-jobs,which immediately follows the first sub-job in a basic resource queue,in an “Active” state ready for processing after the first sub-job, ifthe first and second basic job resources in the queue are submitted bythe same job service.
 12. An apparatus as in claim 11 including, meansfor placing said sub-jobs in said queues of said basic resources in theorder of their priority.
 13. An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein, saidsignal for said first sub-job comprises a first sub-job “Propose” fromits job service to the JCM and wherein said JCM includes means fordetermining the state of the first sub-job upon receiving the “Propose”,such that if the first sub-job is at the top of all its basic resourcejob queues its state is “Active” and said JCM including means fordetermining if said state is “Active” and responsive thereto forforwarding an “Accept” to said first sub-job's, job service so that saidfirst sub-job is performed.
 14. An apparatus as in claim 13 wherein saidJCM includes means for receiving a “Propose” from one of said jobservices for said second sub-job and means for placing said secondsub-job in the queues of each basic resource which said second sub-jobwill require for its performance, said second sub-job being placed insaid queues according to its priority relative to other sub-jobs in saidqueues.
 15. An apparatus as in claim 14 wherein, said JCM includes meansresponsive to receiving the “Propose” for said second sub-job, fordetermining if such second sub-job is next in a basic resource job queueafter said first sub-job and if it was proposed by the same job serviceas the first sub-job, and means for then forwarding an “Accept” to saidjob service so that said second sub-job is performed upon the completionof the first sub-job in a job streaming approach.
 16. An apparatus formanaging the processing of a plurality of jobs in a multifunctionalprinting system in which at least one first job and at least one secondjob are inputted for processing at one or more job services, theapparatus comprising: a) a controller having a job contention manager(JCM) for prioritizing the use of the printing system's basic processingresources; b) a database including in at least a first level a pluralityof capability resources associated with sub-jobs of the one or more jobservices and including in at least a second level a plurality of basicresources of the printing system, with each capability resourcecontaining a list of the basic resources it needs to carry out itscapability and each basic resource containing a list of the capabilityresources that depend upon it; c) each capability resource and eachbasic resource including a sub-job queue; d) means for each respectivejob service, at a desired time, to send a signal to the JCM to carry outa sub-job of said respective first or second jobs, the signal for eachof the sub-jobs including information about the respective sub-job'spriority; e) the JCM including means responsive to the signal forcreating for each sub-job received from a job service a respectivecapability job resource containing the information, and adding each suchcapability job resource, based on priority, to the respective capabilityresource job queue; f) the JCM including means responsive to thecreation of the capability job resource for adding for each capabilityresource, component basic job resource to the job queues of each basicresource which a respective capability resource will require; g) meansfor placing a first of the sub-jobs in an “Active” state ready forprocessing, if the sub-job is at the top of all of the queues, of allthe basic resources, required to perform the first sub-job; and h) meansfor placing a second of the sub-jobs, which immediately follows thefirst sub-job in a basic resource queue, in an “Active” state ready forprocessing after the first sub-job, if the first and second basic jobresources in the queue are submitted by the same job service.
 17. Anapparatus as in claim 16 including, means for placing said sub-jobs insaid queues of said basic resources in the order of their priority. 18.An apparatus as in claim 17 wherein, said signal for said first sub-jobcomprises a first sub-job “Propose” from its job service to the JCM andwherein said JCM includes means for determining the state of the firstsub-job upon receiving the “Propose”, such that if the first sub-job isat the top of all its basic resource job queues its state is “Active”and said JCM including means for determining if said state is “Active”and responsive thereto for forwarding an “Accept” to said firstsub-job's, job service so that said first sub-job is performed.
 19. Anapparatus as in claim 18 wherein said JCM includes means for receiving a“Propose” from one of said job services for said second sub-job andmeans for placing said second sub-job in the queues of each basicresource which said second sub-job will require for its performance,said second sub-job being placed in said queues according to itspriority relative to other sub-jobs in said queues.
 20. An apparatus asin claim 19 wherein, said JCM includes means responsive to receiving the“Propose” for said second sub-job, for determining if such secondsub-job is next in a basic resource job queue after said first sub-joband if it was proposed by the same job service as the first sub-job, andmeans for then forwarding an “Accept” to said job service so that said'second sub-job is performed upon the completion of the first sub-job ina job streaming approach.